Crystal River current., 1887-03-05
ILLUMINATING Gas. !
History of Its Invention and Process-
es EMPLOYED In Its Manufacture.

History OF Its 1nventAOn ana 1,rOcesS-
es Employed In Its Manufacture.
The first artificial production OF illu-
minating gas from coal was made by
one DR.. Hales, of England. about the
year 1926 This was simply done as u
scientific experiment, and was not put
to any practical use. In 1886 the Earl
Dundonald, of Scotland. obtained burn
ing gas by distilling Goals, and for ex-
pertinent lit up his castle with it. In
1892 VIM. Murdoch put In apparatus
for the use of gas in his workshops at
Redruth and Cornwall, and was the
first to reap the tull advantage of the
discovery. In 1902 the Soho foundry.
near Birmingham. Eng, was lighted
by gas, and soon after it was introduc-
ed into the mills of Manchester. In
1878 London bridge was lit by gas. and
bv 1919 it was used throughout the
main part of that city. and WINS soon
after introduced in all the large towns
of England and Scotland. About 1900
a French scientist also discovered the
method of making gas. and it was
generally introduced into continental
circles about the same time that
England began to make use of
it. The manufacture of gas consists in
distilling from coal the hydrogen con-
tanned therein and freeing it as far as
possible from impurities before it is
used for purposes OF illumination
Burning gas can also be made from
wood and from certain oils, but the
labor of its manufacture from these
substances renders it very unlikely that
they will ever be extensively used for
a. onol ic tho
substance almost universally used, and
the process of distllation is as follows:
The coal is put in closed retort of
cast iron or fire-clay over coal firc.
and in about four hours it has given
YOU all its gas, leaving the coke only
in the retort. The gas passes into a
large pipe, called the hydraulic main.
which is kept partly filled with water
Here the water, ammonia, tar and
other matters that escape from the conl
with the gas are partly condensed.
From the hydraulic main the gas is con-
Quoted into the condenser, series of
bent iron tubes. which are kept as cold
as possible by means of stream of
cold water upon their ouside
surface to further arrest its i'm
purit'cs by the process of condensation.
1t then goes through a case called the
scrubber, which contains pieces of coke.
over which water constantly trickles, to
eliminate any traces of ammonia that
NAV still cling TO it. From this it pass
es through the lime purifier. an iron
box fitted with shelves. on which is
placed slaked lime. to absorb the car
bonic acid in the gas. Part of its sui
phureted hydrogen is also taken ont
here. and the remainder is elm natcd
by Il passage through caust C, sawdust
and oxide of lead. or iron sulphate.
The gas is now ready to be passed into
mains and conducted to large reser-
voirs, whence it is conveyed to houses
for use. In large gas manufactures
This process goes on continually, tho
coke being removed from the retOrts as
fast as made. and fresh coal put in. 1t
is said that the quality of gas largely
depends upon the degree of heat applied
to the coal in the retorts; il these are
insuiliciently heated the gas will be inn
perfectly distilled. while if they are too
hot the gas itself is partially decom-
posed, and becomes deficient in illu-
m mating power. When properly made
illuminating gas Is pure nvdro-carbon,
containing 80 per cent. OF carbon and &
per per cent. of hydrogen. The aver
age yield Of gas is about 10000 cubic
feet to every ton of coal If it could be
furnished to consumers at the mere
cost of manufacture. without the usual
premium paid to corporations that con-
troll it, it would be the cheapest illu-
nlinator known, and would also become
extensively and serviceably used as q
fuel.-Ioicdo HidIe.